UT student participates in Fulbright UK Summer Institute for first time in school history

For the first time in the school's history, the University of Tennessee Knoxville will send a student to participate in the prestigious Fulbright UK Summer Institute.

Natalie Campbell, a junior at UT, will spend four weeks in Northern Ireland this summer.

Natalie Campbell, a rising junior majoring in disability studies through the College Scholars Program and member of the Chancellor's Honors Program, will embark on the international venture on June 25 and will stay in Northern Ireland until July 20. 

“I was shocked," Campbell said. "I obviously worked very hard on my application, worked hard on the interview, I did everything I could to prepare for it but still with something like this you kind of think, ‘but what are the odds?’”

The Fulbright UK Summer Institute Program partners with nine European universities to provide American students the opportunity to learn more about another culture while also exploring a topic interesting to them. 

More:University of Tennessee hits new Fulbright record with 19 scholarship recipients

Studying at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland, Campbell will connect with five other American students along with English students to learn through the Education for Transformation program.

The program allows participants to learn the history and culture of Ireland while also visiting schools and families across Northern Ireland. 

On the weekends, participants will explore the country and indulge in European culture. 

"To learn so in depth about something in such a quick amount of time where it’s happening, it’s so specific and so concentrated, we’re going to be surrounded by the experience," Campbell said. 

Campbell's mentor, associate professor of psychology Adam Cureton, suggested she get in touch with Andrew Seidler, director of the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships at UT, regarding opportunities through the University. Seidler worked with Campbell to perfect her application and then her interview once she moved forward in the selection process. 

"Natalie’s enthusiasm to learn — and learn deeply — is infectious," Seidler said. "In many ways, she is an ideal candidate for this highly competitive program and will undoubtedly make the most of her time in Northern Ireland."

Natalie and Olivia Campbell pose for a selfie.

Leaning on her experiences with her younger sister Olivia, a senior at Farragut High School who has Down syndrome, Campbell is motivated to bring back knowledge to apply to Olivia's care.  

“I’ve had a lot of knowledge up to her age of one experience of Down syndrome. One experience and one disability in one part of the country," Campbell said. “I’ll be able to take back and apply (lessons) to the way she receives education or the way she gets different social opportunities and kind of have fresh ideas for our state. I can only imagine the differences I will have learned from being in Northern Ireland for a month.”

Natalie Campbell with her campaign team for "Spread the Word to End the Word."

For Campbell, the social justice component of the Fulbright program is the most important to her experience and career moving forward. When Campbell was 13, she began advocacy work in Knoxville by bringing the "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign to schools in the area. 

"From that, I had the opportunity to talk about respectful treatment of people with intellectual disabilities and develop more educational and social opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities via these conversations and promotions of ideas of respect, acceptance and inclusion," Campbell said. "That really prompts the work I do now, my interest in this program, and my future career plans."

Natalie Campbell poses at the Boston Public Garden during her internship at Massachusetts General Hospital's Down Syndrome Program.

Hoping to attend law school for international disability law, Campbell has also worked with UT's FUTURE program and her sister's Individualized Education Program (IEP) to further help young adults with disabilities receive education. 

Campbell is finishing an internship in Boston at Massachusetts General Hospital's Down Syndrome Program under Brian Skotko before leaving for Europe.